Faderfox Ld2 Ableton tutorial - connect, setup & midi map

Faderfox's Ld2 is an incredibly multi-faceted midi controller and is a powerful addition to any Ableton Live setup. This midi controller has a wealth of features that make it ideal for use with Ableton Live.

This guide will provide you with all the knowledge necessary to utilize the Faderfox Ld2 with Ableton Live, which includes how to connect, configure and midi map the Ld2.

Article Contents

Does the Faderfox Ld2 work with Ableton Live?
Does the Faderfox Ld2 come with ableton Live included?
How to connect the Ld2 to ableton
How to midi map the Faderfox Ld2 in Ableton Live
The Limitations of midi mapping the Ld2
Why can’t I hear my Push in Ableton Live?

Does the Faderfox Ld2 work with Ableton Live?

To sum it up, the Faderfox Ld2 is fully compatible with Ableton Live.

Despite the absence of a built-in MIDI remote script within Ableton Live, users can still use the Ld2 to midi map to numerous functions in the software.

Any edition of Ableton Live, from Intro to Suite, will be compatible with any device that transmits MIDI data. This works for all editions of Live, for instance 9, 10, and 11. As the Ld2 is a MIDI enabled device, it will work with Ableton Live.

You can create your own Ableton midi mappings with ease, giving you the power to control many of the features of Ableton Live with your Ld2.

Does the Faderfox Ld2 come with ableton Live included?

Ableton Live Lite isn't included with the Ld2, so this must be bought separately.

There are three main versions with Ableton Live: Intro, Standard and Suite. Though Intro and Standard are both comprehensive, Suite offers much more, such as 70GB of library sounds, in comparison to Standard's 10GB.

Ableton Live Suite includes many more Audio and MIDI effects compared to Standard, so if you want to ensure you have everything, we recommend going with Ableton Live Suite.

How to connect the Ld2 to ableton

Connecting and setting up the Faderfox Ld2 with Ableton Live is a relatively simple process, once you have the 2 linked together you will be able to control parameters of the software from your midi controller.

1. Connect the Ld2 to your computer via USB.
First, connect the USB cable to both the Ld2 and your computer.
2. Launch Ableton Live and open the MIDI preferences.
Double click the Ableton Live icon to launch the software. Then, in the top menu of Ableton, go to the Preferences menu by opening the ‘Live’ menu and clicking ‘Preferences’.
3. Select the Ld2 from the list of available devices.
Click the the MIDI Sync tab, make sure that Input and Output for the Ld2 are checked.
4. Ensure that the ‘Track’, ‘Remote’ and ‘Sync’ boxes are all checked.
In the ‘MIDI’ section of this tab, make sure the ‘Track’ and ‘Remote’ boxes are checked for both the Input and Output of the Ld2 (Sync can also be optionally checked).

The Ld2 is all set and can now be used with Ableton Live.

How to midi map the akai mpk mini in Ableton Live

Upon making a successful connection between the Faderfox Ld2 and Ableton Live using the instructions above, you can now use MIDI mapping to allocate the physical knobs, pads, keys etc on the device to their respective functions in Ableton Live like this:

1. Select the MIDI Map Mode button in the top right corner of the Live window. The button should turn orange, indicating that the MIDI Map Mode is enabled.
2. Select the parameter you wish to control in Ableton by clicking it with the cursor, the parameter will become highlighted.
3. Move a control on the Ld2, such as a knob or fader.
4. The parameter you selected is now mapped to the physical control which you moved on the Ld2.
5. Moving the physical control on your Ld2 will now move the position of the corresponding parameter in Ableton.
6. Repeat steps 2 - 4 for any other parameters you wish to map.
7. When you’re finished mapping, press the MIDI Map Mode button again to disable it.

The Limitations of midi mapping the Ld2

Ableton's midi mapping system is a great solution for quickly mapping your Ld2, however, you must take into account some potential limitations...

Saving your Ld2 Midi Mappings is cumbersome

Saving your mappings can be a problem as mappings are saved with an Ableton session, so if you start a new session you will need to re-map your controls again.

Ableton MIDI mappings are one-to-one

Through a one-to-one MIDI mapping, each control on your Ld2 can only be assigned to 1 parameter in Ableton Live.

Limited Ableton parameter options to map to

Unfortunately, Ableton's internal midi mapping mode does not include every control options, options such as selected track control and selected device control unfortunately aren't possible. You can view a comprehensive list of all Ableton midi mapping options here.

We have a great solution to these problems

If you're looking to get the most out of your Ld2, our Ableton Midi Script Creator tool 'Control Surface Studio' is exactly what you need!
With it, you'll be able to:
- save and re-use your Ld2's mappings across all of your Ableton Live sessions,
- map multiple Ableton parameters to a single control on your Ld2,
- access many more Ableton parameter controls for your Ld2, than Live's internal midi mapping mode allows.

Learn more about Control Surface Studio and see how it can help you by clicking here!

FAQ / Troubleshooting

Why can't I hear my Ld2 in Ableton Live?

There are several possible causes:
1. Make sure that the Ld2 is connected properly to your computer via USB and that the cable is not damaged.
2. Make sure that the Ld2 is selected as your audio input and output device in your audio settings.
3. Make sure that the correct driver is installed for the Ld2.
4. Make sure that the Ld2 is selected as the input device in Ableton's MIDI Preferences.